Tamarac's Jenna Erickson drives to the basket during their Class B girls' basketball state semifinal game against Notre Dame at HVCC on Friday March 14, 2014 in Troy, N.Y. Tamarac lost 55-69. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

The beauty of scrimmaging the Notre Dame girls' basketball team in November is that it provided Tamarac a glimpse at a potential state Class B title contender. Friday was not a glorified practice session where the score did not matter, however. This particular meeting between the top-ranked Jugglers and Bengals came at Hudson Valley Community College in the state semifinals.

When the fourth quarter rolled around, Notre Dame superstar Emily Durr made it abundantly clear she had no intention of ending her scholastic career vs. the Bengals.

Just when Tamarac finally looked comfortable against the Section III (Syracuse area) champions, Durr produced one of the most dominant five-minute stretches in state playoff history when she scored 18 points — including a rare four-point play — as the Jugglers ended Tamarac's most successful season in school history with a 69-55 victory.

The Bengals (22-3), a roster that featured seven seniors, had a clear-cut goal entering the season and that was to win the Section II title. Although they were disappointed by the season ending Friday, no one in the red and white was displeased where it ended.

"I couldn't ask anything better. Losing in the state semifinals never occurred to us," said Tamarac senior point guard Jenna Erickson, the school's all-time leading scorer. "First, we won sectionals and then we won regionals. It was just amazing."

"To be honest, I couldn't ask for a better team and a better group of girls to work with," Tamarac senior center Adiya Henderson said. "I don't regret anything we went through."

Even though Notre Dame (21-3) made 14 of its first 20 shots, Durr was relatively quiet through the first half. When Tamarac pulled within 44-36 with two minutes left in the third quarter, Durr's game got really loud in the final eight minutes as the dynamic 5-foot-11 guard drained five 3-pointers during her sizzling spurt that provided the Jugglers a 66-46 cushion.

"I had to let the game come to me, and it did in the second half," said Durr, who is headed to Division I Iowa State on scholarship in the fall. "I got some great passes near the 3-point line and knocked them down."

"For long bouts of the game, they were sort of accepting other shots," Tamarac coach Eric Medved said. "Then, all of a sudden in the fourth quarter, (Durr) said, 'This is my time.' We had a 20-point fourth quarter and she almost outscored us herself. Great players rise up in great situations. You have to tip your hat to her. As we elevated our game, she elevated her game two levels above where we were at. It was just an incredible performance by an incredible player."

Durr finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. She made 12 of 22 shots, including 7-for-9 accuracy from beyond the arc.

Asked if she had ever had a more meaningful scoring stretch, Durr said, "I really don't think I've had that before. My teammates needed me to make a couple of shots. My shot felt good. I stepped in and had a great rhythm. I haven't, on this stage, had a performance like that."

Henderson paced Tamarac with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting. The rest of the team connected on just 11 of 45 attempts. Erickson, the Wasaren League Most Valuable Player, tied her season-low with nine points.

Just before sharing a hug with her older brother, Erickson reflected on a fabulous senior season.

"We started as a team and ended as a team. We never focused on me. We have all been about each other," Erickson said. "I wouldn't trade (my teammates) for anything."